The Invisible Hand

Libranos delenda est

May 31, 2005

Answering Machine Tapes

I found some interesting messages on my answering machine when I got home tonight...

[12:31:55 PM]"Hello, Mr. Hand. This is Tim Murphy calling from the PMO. I just wanted to follow up concerning the offer we contacted you-- I mean, you contacted us about moving your blog from the Blogging Tories to Liblogs in exchange for a comfy, furry Welcome mat. Well, I talked to the PM moments ago, and it's been called off."

*BEEP*

[1:54:06 PM]"Hi Mr. Hand, it's Tim Murphy. Just wanted to confirm that the deal we didn't offer you isn't going to happen. Oh, and the PM had nothing do with this."

*BEEP*

[2:49:44 PM]"Hand, it's Murphy. I told you, there is no deal. Please don't make us call anymore."

*BEEP*

[3:29:10 PM]"Me again. No deal means no deal. I'm not going to talk to you again."

*BEEP*

[3:52:59 PM]"Look, what's it going to take for you to get the message? It's not happening, period."

*BEEP*

[3:56:23 PM]"No!"

*BEEP*

[3:56:49 PM]"Why do I have to keep saying this!? NONONONONO!!!!"

*BEEP*

[4:21:37 PM](in background) "Yeah Paul, I'll tell him." (normally) "Hi Ujjal, it's Tim calling. Listen, we've decided not to take that Invisible Hand, but there's another guy called Calgary Observer who seems willing to take one of those 'risks,' if you know what I mean. *laughs* How about we offer... Oops, I think I dialed the wrong number."

May 30, 2005

Tapes and Checkers

CTV reports that the Gurmant Grewal tapes contain evidence that Grewal was going to be given a government position two weeks after the budget vote if he abstained, and that Paul Martin knew about the meetings.

Wow.

In other news, Ezra Levant does a much more thorough job of showing what's wrong the the Globe and Mail's Christian panic story than I could ever hope to do.

But most importantly, Warren Kinsella has officially announced that he defers to my "superior knowledge."

May 29, 2005

Christian Verboten

Christian activists have secured Conservative nominations in clusters of ridings from Vancouver to Halifax -- a political penetration that has occurred even as the party tries to distance itself from hard-line social conservatism.

At least three riding associations in Nova Scotia, four in British Columbia, and one in suburban Toronto have nominated candidates with ties to groups like Focus on the Family, a Christian organization that opposes same-sex marriage.

Oh my! Eight of the open Conservative nominations were won by known or suspected Christians! Let's see now, with 210 nominations up for grabs, that means the Jews Christians have seized control of a whopping... 3.81%.

If this meets the Globe's standards for "political penetration," I have a feeling that their romantic partners are going to be rather disappointed...

May 27, 2005

Technology's a glitch, isn't it?

You've probably read about Sinclair Stevens registering his anti-Stephen Harper website under the name of the Royal Commonwealth Society, an organization which includes Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. (Ianism has done an great job of covering the issue.)

As I type this, Stevens is promoting the site on Dave Rutherford's radio show. When Rutherford asked him about the domain registration, Stevens blamed it on a "technical glitch" by the people who registered it, and complained about the nasty conservatives who are making an issue of it.

May 26, 2005

Uh, no, they're saying "Boo-urns!"

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the ceremony for Queen Elizabeth at the Saddledome yesterday. It was a great performance, with a wide variety of talented singers and dancers.

However, I have to comment on an incident that happened at the beginning, before the guests of honour arrived and the broadcast began. Dave Kelly, a local TV personality, was charged with warming up the crowd, doing a quick review of royal protocol, and making sure everyone knew the words to "God Save the Queen." He also listed the some of the guests who would join the Queen on stage: Mayor Dave Bronconnier, Premier Ralph Klein, Lieutenant Governor Norman Kwong, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, and Prime Minister Paul Martin. All of the names were greeted with polite applause...

...except Paul, whose name was loudly booed. And it wasn't just a few noisy malcontents, either; this was a widespread booing coming from throughout the audience. (Martin did get some clapping, but it was significantly weaker than the other reaction.)

Kelly (who seemed to have fully expected this reaction) responded with a short speech on how this would be an internationally televised ceremony and that we should respect the dignity of the event and not "cross the floor to ask him about Belinda." When Martin followed the Queen out during the actual ceremony, he got the same applause as everyone else.

Granted, this did take place in the most Liberal-unfriendly city in the country, but it still surprised me that people would react that strongly.

May 18, 2005

Blonde Motivations

Well, this stunt has motivated me to finally launch the blog that I registered for months ago.

It's a good thing that Belinda deleted her website; can't have her constituents reading stuff like this or this anymore.

It seems rather fitting that this coincides with the new Star Wars release...

Paul Ditherous: The Liberal Party of Canada is a pathway to many backroom deals some consider to be unethical.Belinda Floorcrosser: Is it possible to gain this power?Paul Ditherous: Not from the Conservatives...